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REPORT.
In preparing a Report of the kind which the Vestry is by statute
required to make, one of the points to be considered is the object
for which it is required.
There can be little doubt that the object for which the Vestry
is required to report, is, in the first place, to give every Ratepayer
an opportunity of judging what has been done, and in the
next place, to enable comparisons to be made.
To facilitate the latter, the Vestry consider that they cannot
do better than adhere, as far as possible, to the lines laid down
in former reports.
The Vestry have to chronicle two unprecedented events in the
history of the Vestry. These are the visits of the Prince and
Princess of Wales, and the visit of Her Majesty the Queen.
The Vestry finding that the Prince and Princess of Wales
would visit the Hamlet in June last, to lay the foundation stone
of the Queen's Hall of the People's Palace, resolved to do all
in their power to provide a fitting reception.
The Vestry being advised that they could not legally expend
any of the moneys under their control towards the reception,
formed themselves into a Committee, to act with a number of
the inhabitants in collecting funds for the purpose, and the
applications met with such a cordial response that the
whole of the decorations were paid for out of private subscriptions,
and a considerable balance was left in hand.
But a few days expired after this visit before rumour went
abroad that Her Majesty the Queen would in person open the
Hall, the foundation stone of which has just been laid, and in
March of the present year, it was officially announced that such
would be the case, and that the ceremony would be in May.
The Vestry thereupon adopted the same course of action as on
the visit of the Prince and Princess. The Visit itself, not being
in the )/ear the subject of this report, ought not, perhaps, to be
dealt with, but as it is rather a matter of history than of the
duties of the Vestry proper, it may be well to say that everything
passed off most satisfactorily, and that the Queen met
with a reception, which, for heartiness, could not have been
excelled in any other part of her dominions.
Visits of
Royalty.